Robert Bevan first stayed in the West Country in the summer of 1912 in the company of fellow artists Spencer Gore and Charles Ginner. The three were invited to stay at Applehayes, the farm of their friend Harold Bertram Harrison, near Clayhidon in the Blackdown Hills on the border of Devon and Somerset. Bevan visited Applehayes again with Gore and Ginner in the summer of 1913 and by himself in 1915.

During the war Harrison became unable to accommodate visitors. Bevan therefore decided to rent a cottage nearby called Lytchetts on Hart’s Farm in Bolham Water for the summers of 1916–19; he then stayed at Gould’s Farm, Luppitt, in 1920 and at various cottages in the following years. He finally bought Marlpits Cottage, Luppitt, in 1923. The photograph appears to show Bevan and his artist wife Stanislawa de Karlowska outside the cottage.

In May–June 1925 Bevan stayed for the last time at Marlpits Cottage; he fell ill and came back to London where he died from cancer on 8 July. Property details and solicitors’ letters chart the sale of the cottage in 1926.

Honiton is a good country shopping and business centre, and from it Exeter can be

quickly reached.

... ... ... ...

The Cottage is soundly built of stone with slate roof, brick chimneys, lattice casement windows. It is in a thorough state of repair, considerable sums of money having been spent on it in the last three years. It is dry and weather-proof. Water is obtained from a good well and is plentiful. (The purchaser could at small expense tap one of the springs just above the house and bring water even on to the upper floor). Sanitation. Newly built, sound and clean Earth Closet on brick pillars at back of cottage. Repainted winter of 1924–25. [End of p.1] - 2 - Ground Floor. Good sized living-room with large open fireplace. Smaller room, Back kitchen, Larder, Wood-room and Toolhouse. First Floor. Two good Bedrooms. (One could be used

as a Studio, since a light has beencut in the roof at the back of the

house).

The front faces approximately S.E., looking over thegarden and orchard with a fine view right down the Valley.

There are good walks in the neighbourhood, which isexceptionally varied and beautiful in scenery. ... ... ... ... A certain amount of simple and useful furniture, linen, bedding, crockery, an

oil cooking stove, kitchen utensils and garden tools can also be bought with thehouse.

Also a good supply of logs and firewood already cut on the premises. There is, I am told, a Tennis Club at the Vicarage. The owner of the cottage

can also pasture a cow or horse on the common, which is far reaching. There is also

the right of cutting bracken and, I believe, of shooting rabbits. There is an annual nominal rent of 10/- a year to the Manor. Rates and taxesare low. R.A. Bevan, 14 Adamson Road, Hampstead, N.W.3. [Handwritten:] Price: £ [End of property details]

of notice of intention to pay off, but we settled the matter by paying £4.10.0. which included the interest from the 28th January last. Yours faithfully, [Signature:] Every & Phillips.

Mrs S. Bevan, 14 Adamson Road, Hampstead, London N.W.3.

[Solicitor’s invoice:]Honiton, May 1926. Mrs S. Bevan, Dr to Messrs. Every & Phillips, Solicitors.£sdApl & May 1926. To Professional charges in relation to deducing title, preparing and completing Contract and Conveyance of Marlpits, Luppitt, Devon sold by you to Miss Jacobs for £300 including attendances and correspondence 6 13 4 The like for Reconveyance from Mr T. Northcoteto Yourself of mortgage held by him for £100 1 8 0 Payments£sd Stamp on Contract 6 do. Reconveyance 6 Postages, registration &c. 2 6 3 6 £8. 4. 10. [Handwritten on stamp:]Paid in account 1 May 1926 Every & Phillips

How to cite

Property Details for Robert Bevan's Cottage, Marlpits, 1926, in Helena Bonett, Ysanne Holt, Jennifer Mundy (eds.), The Camden Town Group in Context, Tate Research Publication, May 2012, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/camden-town-group/property-details-for-robert-bevans-cottage-marlpits-r1104697, accessed 25 May 2019.